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Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#121

Post by snarfy »

p0larboy wrote: post #105

I was literally in a rut a few days ago. Super lethargic. Didn't want to reply to email, didn't want to make plans for the business... Then I started surfing amazon books because, you know, anything to procrastinate working. I came across one of Tim grover's book (Michael Jordan' trainer) and I downloaded the sample to read. It's a little OOT but something he said rang a bell. He talk about humans overthinking especi…

> So I put myself in robot mode

This is the key insight. A rut is entirely emotional. When you don't want to do something but you need to do it there is an emotional conflict.

Robot mode is not emotionless. It's satisfying a different emotion (fear, anxiety,etc) than desire. It might even be considered a form of bravery. In a crisis situation do you panic or do you 'just start doing things' and help without thinking about it? It's a similar response.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#122

Post by knaik94 »

ActorNightly wrote: post #63
knaik94 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The positive effects of psychedelics are exaggerated and is similar to using a blowtorch to remove weeds from your front lawn. Additionally set and setting are important, you'll get the most out of them when you're in a position to not need them and are just exploring life. Having expectations about what they may do will make it easier to fall into a negative spiral. The studied therapeutic use of psychedelics always…

Just out of curiosity, have you tried psychedelics? Don't mean to imply that you are fully wrong in what you said, I just want to further know your perspective on it so I can reply based on that.

Let's just say I am very drug positive and believe in decriminalization of everything and legalization of everything non habit forming.

Psychedelics are powerful drugs. It's hard to know if someone can help themselves out of a bad trip or if they will spiral further. It's hard to know how much the people around them can help if things become difficult. They don't always change your perspective in a positive way. I am not saying the drugs are the reason for anything bad, but they do amplify what is already there.

I think you would agree that there are some people who shouldn't take psychedelics at a certain moment. Mindset in my opinion is much much more important than setting.

Psychedelics can easily become an escape and a way to avoid your real life and responsibilities. That's my main concern and why I am against recommending them generally to a reader of HN I don't know personally. Especially when it's someone questioning motivation and not something more existential.

I can expect an average reader of HN to do research. But I doubt most people find the answer to their lethargy in psychedelics. I don't think it should be anywhere closer to an initial response to what the author is describing.

I would argue psychedelics are most mentally expanding when the user doesn't feel a strong need to take them.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#123

Post by edmcnulty101 »

Excercise. First of all. Hour each day.

Also, Lists. No joke.

When your dopamine and serotonin are shot.

Write out where you want to go.

Then break that down further and further until you have actionable lists.

Then just follow those lists.

Takes the dopamine and serotonin right out of the equation and turns the things you need to do into habit.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#124

Post by teekert »

Easier said than done, but the desk is no place for the evening. Take a walk. We got a dog, I hated it but now that I regularly walk I do really feel better. But it takes a while, it's like a diet for the mind, takes will power and the reward is not immediate. But stick to it.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#125

Post by Eddy_Viscosity2 »

oliwarner wrote: post #90

> I've found myself sitting at my desk each evening Wait, isn't that what daytime is for? Get out. Play games. Read. Write. Ride a bike. Build something with your hands, with code, whatever. Hit the gym. Cook complicated dishes. Go to restaurants. Join a club and make some friends. Even sleep more. You need to find what you like to do with your time, and truth is it's probably not what you want it to be. Picking up h…

Agree with above. Not every moment needs to be "productive", its toxic to believe this. If you worked hard at job/school/project all day, you can relax in the evening. Do the above suggestions, surf the web, or just chill. You're mind needs recovery time too.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#126

Post by gherkinnn »

2143 wrote: post #95
gherkinnn wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

> don't waste a second of your life or you'll fall behind I never said that. And I agree with what you're saying; I do not have the mentality you described.

I apologise, no straw man intended.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#127

Post by caffeine »

Give in to some procrastination. Whatever thing it is that’s pulling your attention away, just go all in on it. YouTube? Fine. Video games? Fine. (As long as it’s not really physically self destructive..)

  Just scratch the itch.  You can even ban studying or work or whatever you are supposed to do for a few days.
After a while you will start to feel some ambition returning.

Re: Ask HN: How do you get out of a rut?

#130

Post by jugg1es »

baxuz wrote: post #84
2143 wrote: post #46

Exercise. Try daily rigorous cardio workout for 30 minutes a day. AFAIK the brain releases endorphins or something when you exercise, so you actually get a high out of exercising (in addition to getting fitter). Do it in the morning so that you'll feel good till noon atleast. Once you're in a good mood positive things will start happening. Cheers :)

I exercise regularly for years. Weight lifting, rock climbing, HIIT at home. I've tried having rigorous trainings in the morning for weeks and the only thing that happens is that I feel tired for the rest of the day. Only late-night trainings before bed work for me.

Agreed. People who exercise in the morning are weird.
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